PMBJKs accepting orders on WhatsApp and e-mail to facilitate medicine procurement during lockdown

The novel move is ensuring use of technology for facilitating easier procurement of medicines by the users.

Amidst lockdown, many Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Janaushadhi Kendras (PMBJKs) under the Union Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers are accepting the orders for medicines on WhatsApp and e-mail, where, on the basis of uploaded prescriptions, medicines are delivered at the doorsteps of the patients. This novel move is ensuring use of technology for facilitating easier procurement of medicines by the users. Complementing PMBJKs for this initiative, DV Sadananda Gowda, Union Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers said, “It is heartening to note that many PMBJKs are using modern communication tools including social media plataforms like Whatsapp to provide better services in effecting faster delivery of essential medicines to the needy.”

PMBJKs are working under the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP). At present, threre are over 6,300 PMBJKs functioning in 726 districts of the country ensuring supply of quality medicines at affordable prices. These medicines are cheaper by about 50 per cent to 90 per cent on an average. In April 2020, medicines worth around Rs 52 crore have been supplied throught the country.

In addition, supply arrangements with India Post have also been made for supply to remotely located stores.

Moreover, Bureau of Pharma PSUs of India (BPPI), under the Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP), Union Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, has paid its vendors within due date for solving their working capital issues for raw material and logistics.

A dedicated team has been created of BPPI officers for every state to sort out bottlenecks in supply due to lockdown.

Jan Aushadhi warehouses are working at full capacity and in-house residential arrangements have been made for staff.

Helpline numbers of BPPI are working to resolve any issues of consumers and store owners.

For maintaining supply of essential medicines during the lockdown period, BPPI has issued purchase orders for 178 fast moving medicines in the month of April having maximum retail price (MRP) of Rs 186.52 crore.